Lagan Valley Garden Therapy
24 June 2010
The Lagan Valley Day Hospital has been receiving gardening therapy in the form of Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland’s Green Gym.
The Green Gym offers people the opportunity to improve their physical fitness by involvement in local practical conservation activities.
The staff in the Lagan Valley Day Hospital have seen the difference the Green Gym has made to their participants since it began in September 2009.
“Green Gym is so beneficial to the service users”, said Tanya Doran, Lagan Valley Hospital Nurse, “it gives them a chance to get involved without any pressure as they can do something they feel comfortable with and it gives them a real sense of belonging.”
The Green Gym group have transformed their underused garden to a beautiful and tranquil area, flourishing with native plants. “I really like the bright colours, smells and the feel of the flowers, it makes the garden really relaxing”, said one participant.
The group have really taken inspiration from the Green Gym, with many participants taking the skills they have learnt home with them. “When I started Green Gym I wasn’t a gardening type of person but I gave it a go. I find it therapeutic and I even help do my granny’s garden now”, explained another.
The group who have worked hard continuously have taken a real sense of pride in their garden and have been creating outdoor mosaics and are often seen weeding and watering the plants of their own accord.
“The group have grown in so many ways and by them taking ownership of their garden they have made me feel very proud and humble to have the opportunity to work along side them.” Mary Hamilton, Green Gym Project Officer
The Green Gym Project has improved the physical abilities of those involved by providing a means for gentle exercise and improving their mental health. It is hoped that the group will continue to benefit from the Green Gym and take pleasure in watching their garden grow and develop.